I went for a blood test in a downtown lab. Great walk! I paced through the neighborhood frequented by the famous impressionist artists, the Group of Seven, to make it to the lab. There I met an amiable woman, an Afro-Canadian.
“My name is Aretha,” she said.
“Oh! As in Franklin?” I thought, Of course, she was named after her.
“After the vocalist, yes.” She said.
“That gal was the best. She had an incredible voice.”
This Aretha made a remark about my attire, the colour, and how she especially appreciated it.
“How long have you been a monk?”
“I started at the age of twenty. No regrets!” I told her, of my forty-seven year commitment.
“Well, you appear and sound peaceful!”
“At times. This is one of them.” And as I said that the needle for blood extraction did penetrate as I clenched my fist. I told her of my walking service. “I took to the road in Canada, the US and other places to encourage a healing of sorts.”
Aretha was quick to mention, “We could use some healing with the way the world is going.”
“Most definitely! But you know, the world always has this chaotic dynamic. My parents told of the Second World War and the depression. It was tough! Always will be; therefore, it should compel us to tap into our spiritual side.”
Aretha was so much in tune. I hope to meet her again for another installment of upbeat chatting.
Source: http://thewalkingmonk.blogspot.com/2020/09/monday-september-14-2020.html
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